ARLINGTON, Va. -- Of all the subjects raised with George McPhee at his on-the-way-out news conference after being told hes done as the Washington Capitals general manager, the two most vital to understanding the teams future and recent past involved captain Alex Ovechkin and fired coach Adam Oates. And those were two topics McPhee did not want to address Monday, two days after the Capitals announced the 17-year GMs contract would not be renewed. "I dont really want to answer questions about individuals. Im going to duck those," McPhee replied when Ovechkins name was first brought up. Pressed to weigh in about the three-time NHL MVP, McPhee replied: "If youre asking me if we can win with him, I believed we could win with him." As to how Ovechkin could lead the league with 51 goals and be among the worst in the NHL with a minus-36 rating, McPhee said: "Of course I have opinions, but those issues are for the next guy." Later, McPhee was asked to describe his working relationship with Oates, who was fired Saturday with a season left on his three-year deal. "Again," McPhee said, "I dont want to talk about individuals." At another point in the half-hour meeting with the media, though, McPhee did say he "loved working with" Oates two immediate predecessors as Washingtons coach, Bruce Boudreau and Dale Hunter. The Capitals finished ninth in the Eastern Conference this season, missing the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since 2007. "For five years, we really had an opportunity to win a cup. We were legit," McPhee said. "And then I thought the last couple years, we could make the playoffs, but going deep might be hard, because I didnt think we were quite deep enough." During the six post-season berths in the span from 2008-13, though, Washington never made it past the second round. McPhee thinks hes leaving the team in good shape, ready to reach the Stanley Cup finals "sometime in the next three years." "Im not exaggerating when I try to explain that this organization is in great shape," McPhee said. "We dont have any bad contracts on the books. Lots of cap space to work with. A great (AHL) affiliation in Hershey. A whole group of young players coming into the organization." He said the Capitals simply need a "pretty easy fix." McPhee said his contract wont expire until July 1, so other teams would need to ask the Capitals for permission to speak to him about a job. "If theres another GMs job in the future and someone gives me an opportunity, Id love to do it again," he said. "And Id go to Iceland to do it. Doesnt matter where it is." McPhees mood was light and he made a handful of jokes. Perhaps its because he was not stunned that the Capitals would make changes. "I felt it was coming," McPhee said, "but in this job, youre 24 hours away from being fired almost any time." Vapormax Homme Pas Cher . "There are a lot of things that are going very well in this organization. Im not coming in here to rip things apart," Nicholson told reporters Friday. "I know what Hockey Canada was when I started, and I know where this (Oilers) organization is today. Nike Vapormax Promo . -- Washington Redskins linebacker Brian Orakpo is going to the Pro Bowl as a replacement for San Francisco 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks. http://www.vapormaxsolde.fr/basket-vapor...-grossiste.html. -- Those impatient for the Stanley Cup to return to Canada will have just one team to root for in the NHL playoffs -- the Montreal Canadiens. Vapormax Off White France . Nick Young scored 17 points for Los Angeles, which lost five of its last seven before trouncing the Pelicans, who beat them handily last week in New Orleans. Jodie Meeks and Xavier Henry scored 15 points apiece for the Lakers, who led by 20 points in the first half before coasting to their 12th win in their last 13 regular-season meetings with New Orleans. Vapormax Homme Promo . On the eve of the 2013-14 NBA season, he can finally take a step back and allow his team to do the talking.MONTREAL -- The Montreal Impacts faltering offence could be getting a big boost this weekend. After a month watching from the sidelines, star striker Marco Di Vaio will likely dress for Montreal when the last-place Impact (1-5-4) face the Colorado Rapids (4-4-3) in Denver on Saturday. "I think Im ready to go," said Di Vaio on Wednesday before the team left for the American southwest. "I trained yesterday, alone at first and then with the team. And today I took part in the whole session. I feel good after the injury. I can go." The star striker injured his hamstring on April 19 in a 4-0 road defeat to Sporting Kansas City, leaving the game in the 56th minute. He then played in most of Montreals victory over the Philadelphia Union the following week, but has since missed the clubs last four games. "Obviously, if Marco comes back, it will help," assistant coach Mauro Biello told reporters on Wednesday. "We have a good record when hes in the lineup. Were just waiting for him to be at 100 per cent." Despite only scoring once in five appearances this season, Di Vaios return could spark a struggling club looking to build on back-to-back respectable results. Montreal played to a 1-1 draw against second-place D.C. United last Saturday three days after a midweek victory over NASL side FC Edmonton in the Amway Canadian Championship. "The confidence is growing," Impact defender Jeb Brovsky told the teams website. "As a team, the chemistry is going up. This team is going in the right direction. It takes only two or three games to really change things around in a season. We have a tough road game. Its time to see what were made of." With seven points from 10 games, the MLS-worst Impact are looking to climb from the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings. The team has only scored three goals in its last five MLS games. Two of those were courtesy of striker Jack McInerney, who has now scored five times in all competitions since joining the Impact in April. And while the combination of McInerney and Di Vaio up front in a two-striker formation has yet to click for Montreal, the team is hoping the two connect for goals on Saturday. "Were happy that Jack is scoring goals, and that Marco is coming backk," said Biello.dddddddddddd"We have to keep working on that chemistry up front. With players like that, we can give a lot of trouble to our opponents." Montreal will hope to trouble a Colorado side going through struggles of its own. The team has only scored four goals in its last six games, and is coming off consecutive losses for the first time this season. Last week, defender Drew Moor scored his first goal of the season late in the game, a consolation prize in a 2-1 loss to Real Salt Lake. While Di Vaio may be returning to the Impact lineup, the Rapids will still be without top-scorer Vicente Sanchez, who sprained his knee in a May 3 win. Sanchez has scored five goals this season -- four of those from the penalty spot. "(The Rapids) have a few injuries," said Biello. "But they have a lot of speed up front and a lot of quality in the midfield. Were expecting a team thats looking for a victory, especially at home. They lost their last home game. We have to be ready for a team that will push and pressure us." The Impact will also have to cope with high altitude. Denver is nicknamed the Mile-High City because, at one mile above sea level, it is one of the most elevated cities in the United States. For Montreal, it will mean a risk of dehydration and altitude sickness. "The altitude is definitely an issue," said Denver-born Brovsky. "We are a fit team, so that should help. But well have to make sure that we arent running around aimlessly." Excited to be going back to his home city, Brovsky promised to fill a section of Dicks Sporting Goods Park with Impact supporters. "I already made a lot of calls, and a lot of people are amped up," he said. "So hopefully we have a home atmosphere in Colorado. Hopefully theyll be pretty rowdy -- which I know my family are." Notes: Newcomer midfielder Issey Nakajima-Farran could make his Impact debut against the Rapids. The Canadian international was acquired by Montreal last week from Toronto FC. a The Impact have lost both their games against the Rapids since joining MLS. a Marc Burch (hamstring) and Nathan Sturgis (foot) are both doubtful for the Rapids. a The Impact and Rapids wont meet again this season. 14:34ET 23-05-14 ' ' '